Celebrating Older Americans Month in May – “Aging Their Way”

May is recognized as Older Americans Month and this year’s theme is “Age My Way” with a focus how seniors can plan to live safely and comfortably in their homes and communities for as long as possible. This is a core belief within the JFCS Senior Service program making us especially excited to share how we help our seniors age their own way. 

What is Older Americans Month? 

The Administration for Community Living leads the national observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). OAM was established by President Gerald Ford in 1976 to recognize the contributions of older adults across the country and raise awareness of the needs specific to the aging demographic. 

The 2022 theme for OAM is “Aging My Way” which provides an opportunity to highlight the many way older adults can safely remain in their communities in their golden years and the value they bring in being involved. 

How does JFCS help seniors age their own way? 

Aging-in-place support is one of the core focus areas of our senior service department. JFCS believes all individuals are entitled to their right to live their golden years as they choose. Our care managers help navigate the maze of senior care and assist seniors in making the best decisions for care, safety and comfort such as how to safely age in their homes, how to make informed decisions about assisted living, in-home care and plan for long-term medical, financial, and legal situations. Our team of geriatric care managers are here to serve as advocates for our clients, ensuring their needs are heard by family, caregivers, friends, doctors and professionals. 

Beyond care management, JFCS even offers specific senior nutrition programs to ensure that older adults have access to nutritious food on a regular basis, further enhancing their quality of life in their later years. 

What our seniors say is “aging their way”…

Making connections to help seniors who feel isolated… 

The JFCS Friendly Caller & Visitor Program matches volunteers and seniors who feel more isolated or vulnerable, whether due to being homebound, living alone, or other circumstances. When COVID-19 forced many more seniors into isolation for their health & safety, JFCS continued this program matching more volunteers with more seniors.  

Two volunteers shared their perspective on what these regular connections have meant to them, and the senior they connect with. 

Volunteer Michael says… 

I’ve fostered a deep, meaningful, and humorous relationship through my friendly, weekly calls with Ms. Jane. Our calls are centered around positivity, compassion, and encouragement, whether it be a new hobby or to explore a new museum. This has greatly abated the fear of isolation and promoted social connection.  

Ms. Jane looks forward to our weekly calls, to the point where the excitement and enthusiasm is palpable; an experience that is beyond rewarding. 

Volunteer Judith says… 

I continue to speak with Ruth weekly. Our conversations have no topic; we speak as two friends about family, books, happenings in our lives, and reminiscences. She picks the topics, sets the tone and pace. I follow her direction. 

I know Ruth feels lonely, and our talks provide relief each week. I can tell that she looks forward to and enjoys our conversations, for she says so repeatedly and thanks me each week. 

*all names changed for confidentiality

What to Expect When Hiring a Home Care Agency

If you are considering hiring an aide, you or a loved one has likely had a recent injury, surgery or illness. You may require assistance with personal care, ambulating or being transported safely in addition to needing help with meals.

Think about the kinds of things you expect from the caregiver:
  • Do you want the person to take initiative in doing chores/tasks or should the caregiver only follow your instructions?
  • Would you prefer someone who enjoys conversation or would you prefer to be left alone?
  • Try to think outside the box with tasks that are not hands-on care (such as dressing, bathing and toileting}. The aide could straighten up the bathroom, change your bed linens and do laundry, help prep or actually prepare a meal for later, pick up groceries at the market, go to the pharmacy, etc.
  • Try to be as specific as possible about the schedule that would work best for you- keep in mind the number of hours in the “block” of time and how many days/week and which days you prefer. Schedules are generally not set in stone.  Health needs are ever-changing and schedules can change with the needs.  Usually, agencies need 24-48 hours’ notice to implement any changes.  Any changes in schedule must go through the office, not the caregiver.  Call the home care agency to report any difficulties you experience in the adjustment to having a caregiver.

When matching an aide to a client, it does help to know as much as possible.  Understand that the caregiver and you may take several days to settle into a routine and that the first day may not be a good reflection on how good the match is.  Agencies will do the best they can to match an aide based on skill set and caregiver availability to meet your needs.  A creative solution, such as slightly different hours, may be offered by the agency if the caregiver they think would be best has availability that slightly differs from your initial request.

Since the pandemic, many agencies now require a minimum of 16-20 hours per week of care due to the high demand for caregivers; many have had to increase their hourly rate from approximately $26 to $30, and many have increased the hourly block from 3 or 4 hours to 6-hour shifts.  The minimum number of days care is given may have also been adjusted due to availability of staff.  If you have a request for a shorter block of time or less frequency, you may have a greater turnover in aides being assigned to your care.  In general, the more hours and days per week, the more consistent the caregiver.  Each agency sets its own policy regarding rates and minimum care.

Not all agencies require their caregivers/staff to be vaccinated.  We advise you to inquire about the status of your caregiver.  Please know that the agencies do provide masks, gloves and sanitizers for their aides to use.

Generally, most agencies do not bring caregivers to your home to be “interviewed” prior to the assignment.  The agency will match the best caregiver to your needs and if the match does not meet your expectations after several days, the agency will do its best to make any necessary changes.  Most aides do not have interviewing experience and may not present his or her best version of oneself in that type of setting.  If you are being discharged from a rehab setting, the agency can, in most cases, bring the aide to the facility for “training” by the PT department regarding any specific needs.

Following a hospitalization or rehabilitation stay, the agency may recommend having “round the clock” care for the first few days.  This means you will be billed the hourly rate x 24, per day.  The benefit of this is that your overnight needs can be evaluated so that you are safe, especially if there is concern about being a fall risk or having impaired sleep and needing care throughout the night.  The agency will generally arrange for (2) 12-hour shifts, or (3) 8 hour shifts of aides.  Once it is determined that you or your loved one is not at risk of falling at night, or is able to sleep through the night, the schedule can be adjusted to your needs.

If you require a caregiver who has his/her own car or has a driver’s license (and can drive your car) to do errands, take you to a doctor appointment, etc., please tell the agency.  Not all aides have a car and/or a driver’s license.

If you need a live-in caregiver, keep in mind the caregiver needs to sleep and cannot work “round the clock”.  Live-in aides are required to have 5 hours of consecutive hours of sleep, with 8 hours total per night, as mandated by labor laws.  If the client needs brief help more than once or twice nightly, additional overnight support may be necessary; either a second aide can be added to remain awake overnight or two twelve hour shifts of care may need to be implemented in lieu of live-in care.

If you have a live-in caregiver, you will need to provide a separate room for him/her for sleeping in addition to providing food.  Any unusual or special dietary requests by the caregiver are not your responsibility to provide.

Most agencies will charge time-and-a-half on holidays.

If you have a pet in the house, you need to inform the home care agency and do not assume that the caregiver will take care of your pet (walk, feed, clean litter box, etc.).

We hope you find this information useful.  If you would like to speak to a geriatric care manager, please contact JFCS at 609-987-8100.

Beth Hammer, LCSW Geriatric Care Manager
Andrea Gaynor, LCSW Geriatric Care Manager
Beverly Mishkin, LCSW Director of Senior Services

The Commencement of Tax Season – and Scams

NJCCIC Alert about Tax Season Scams

The federal tax filing season began this week and threat actors are quickly targeting taxpayers. The NJCCIC observed phishing campaigns attempting to be delivered to New Jersey State employees, with the intent to download and install malware. Threat actors spoofed the sender’s display name to a known source or entity to convince the recipient to trust the email without verifying its legitimacy. The sender’s display name is purported to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); however, upon further inspection, the sender’s domain name was “irs.com” instead of the legitimate “irs.gov.” Additionally, the email signature claimed to be the “Government department” in the IRS to add a false sense of legitimacy and authority.

The subject line displayed “Information Regarding Your Tax Form” to convince their target to open the email and take action. Although the email referenced an attached “TAXFORM.pdf,” it contained an attached Microsoft Word name “Tax Form.doc” that, if clicked, downloads and installs malware. In addition to the IRS, threat actors may also spoof popular tax brands to trick their victims into divulging sensitive information, which can then be used to file fraudulent tax returns, collect refunds, and engage in other identity theft schemes. Additionally, companies required to provide customers with tax documents may also be impersonated in attempts to convince victims into opening malicious links or attachments.

The NJCCIC recommends users and organizations educate themselves and others on these continuing threats and tactics to reduce victimization. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages, or social media channels to send or request personal or financial information. Please review the NJCCIC Product Beware of Tax Scams to learn more about common tax scams—including tax identity theft, IRS impersonation scams, and fraudulent tax preparer scams—and cybersecurity best practices to help protect your identity, data, and tax refunds. Additional tax scams and consumer alerts can be found on the IRS website.

 

August 21 is Senior Citizen’s Day! Celebrating Seniors

August 21 is Senior Citizen’s Day, recognized across the country as a day to celebrate our seniors. JFCS celebrates and supports older adults here in our Mercer community all year round – the retirees who serve as dedicated volunteers, the Holocaust Survivors who are staying connected through technology, the older adults who join in our weekly group to help each other through this difficult time, the seniors across the community who are aging independently in their homes.

In honor of Senior Citizen’s Day, we are sharing resources, information and groups tailored for our senior community.

Connecting with your elderly loved ones…

Looking for Senior Resources?

Support for Seniors

  • Join our weekly Social Support Group, designed for older adults to connect during a time of social distancing and isolation. Register to join weekly.
  • For Jewish seniors, the upcoming holidays may be a lonely time, and we’re offering special programs to address some of the emotional challenges you may face during this time.
  • Are you a Caregiver? If you are caring for a spouse with chronic illness, join our upcoming Caregiver Support Group beginning Sept 15. Click to learn more & register.

JFCS & Beth El Seniors Present: Celebrate Chanukah!

Description: Join special guest Rabbi Jay Kornsgold for a fun pre-Chanukah celebration.  Rabbi Jay will speak about the miracles of Chanukah as well as the debate on whether there should be a menorah on government property during the holiday.  You can take part in a gift exchange by bringing a wrapped gift costing between $6-$10.  We will also enjoy special refreshments for the holiday! 

Date: Thursday, December 12th at 1:00pm

Location: Beth El Synagogue (50 maple Stream Road, East Windsor)

RSVP is required by 12/9 to Beth Englezos at bethe@jfcsonline.org or 609-987-8100, ext. 126 or call Beth El Synagogue at 609-443-4454. 

This program is sponsored by Beth El Seniors & JFCS.

When to Call 911

Description: Seniors of Beth El Synagogue and JFCS present “When to Call 911.” When an emergency strikes, you can find yourself unsure of what to do, but knowing the basics of when to call 911 can keep you focused on the task at hand. Whether it’s accidental injury or sudden chest pains, do you know when to call 911? Join us for this interactive, educational lecture and learn when to call 911. This program will be led by Barbara Vaning, MHA, EMT Instructor, Penn Medicine Princeton. You’ll learn about what constitutes an emergency, what you need to tell the emergency dispatcher when you call, what to do if you cannot talk and what you can do while waiting for help to arrive.

Light refreshments will be served.

Date: Thursday March 14th at 1:00pm

Location: Beth El Synagogue (50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor)

RSVP: To Beth Englezos at bethe@jfcsonline.org or 609-987-8100 ext. 126 by 3/8

Tips On Managing Stress During Caregiving

Beverly Mishkin, LCSW, Director of Senior Services &
Katrina Brophy, LSW, Senior Care Manager

Caregivers over 75 are a group that is often underrepresented but seriously over-stressed. The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Public Policy Institute report that over 3 million seniors over the age of 75 are caring for loved ones, including spouses. Caregivers over the age of 75 spend approximately 34 hours a week on caregiving and assisting with activities of daily living. These include the often strenuous tasks of bathing, dressing and feeding.

Burnout usually happens when a loved one is feeling overwhelmed by their duties. This may present as tearfulness, feelings of depression or resentment toward the loved one you are caring for. Being isolated and withdrawing from usual activities is also a sign of burnout. It is important for caregivers to take time for themselves to stay healthy and vital. Here are some tips:

  • Practice self-care: Even though you may not have as much free time, get enough sleep, schedule regular outings and take care of your own health. Eat healthy meals and snacks to keep energy levels up.
  • Reach out: Staying isolated can cause anxiety. Reach out to friends and family – chances are someone within your social network is also a caregiver. One of JFCS’s services, Secure@Home, provides monthly outreach phone calls to access client needs and provide an outlet for problems and questions.
  • Accept Help: Don’t let pride get in the way of a neighbor or family member who wants to pitch in with errands, yard work or other needs. People genuinely want to help you, let them and enjoy whatever free time it provides!
  • IT’S OK!: Remember that taking care of yourself is part of taking care of others. Your loved one wants you to be healthy and happy.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service offers the Mercer County Caregiver Support Helpline to connect families to resources and information. This is a free service and is available to all residents of Mercer County. The agency also offers its caregiver support groups as well as certified Geriatric Care Managers through the Secure@Home program. In this membership program, the Geriatric Care Managers will coordinate all health-related or other needed services during crisis or illness as well as advocate and provide support for you and your family.

To reach the Mercer County Caregiver Support Helpline please call 609-987-8100 x137.

JFCS Launches In-Home Geriatric Care Management Consultation Service

April 1, 2015, PRINCETON, NJ — Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County (JFCS) is pleased to announce a new In-Home Geriatric Care Management Consultation service for older adults.  Designed for seniors as well as their adult children, this service will help families determine both short and long-term goals and provide them with the specific resources they need.

Led by a team of Certified Geriatric Care Managers, the in-home consultation will review overall health and wellness including medical and/or physical conditions, support networks and legal documentation.  Care Managers will also assess potential depression, memory issues, isolation and any other mental health conditions and include a home safety evaluation.  After needs are determined, contact information will be provided on a range of services, including in-home care providers, transportation, nutrition options, elder care attorneys, adult day programs, medication management, volunteers as well as social and community resources.

“We receive so many calls from adult children who are worried about their aging parents as well as calls from the older adults themselves.  They are in need of a variety of resources as well as expert opinion on short and long-term goals,” says Beverly Mishkin, LCSW, Director of Senior Services.

Linda Meisel, Executive Director of JFCS, adds, “This service is one of many on the continuum of senior care that we provide.  The consultation complements our Secure@Home program which provides comprehensive care management services to enable older adults to remain in their own homes.  As our population ages, we want to help older adults obtain their optimal level of well-being — whether aging at home or transitioning to another level of care.”

Older Americans Month

This year’s theme for Older Americans Month is “Get into the Act.” Simply put, this means that seniors are active in taking charge of their own health, and getting involved in their surrounding community. In a partnership with Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County has developed Secure@Home Hamilton, a transitional care program that supports older adults in taking charge of their own health post-hospitalization.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County is a social service agency that serves many individuals and families in the area. The agency provides case management services, counseling, a kosher food pantry and a large senior services department. Most programs are staffed by dedicated social workers. Through a grant funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Secure@Home Hamilton’s goal is to prevent hospital readmissions of seniors in Mercer County. Countless senior citizens are discharged from hospitals, and are unfortunately readmitted within 30 days of discharge.

Within the first year of implementation, Secure@Home Hamilton has connected with over 60 clients in the Mercer County area. The program advocates an innovative, interdisciplinary team approach through its use of two nurses and a social worker who collaborate on a client’s care plan. The client’s medical and social concerns can be better addressed through this holistic and comprehensive system of care. Many clients in the program need assistance securing transportation services, finding reliable home health care and medication management.

One client in particular, Evelyn, greatly benefitted from the Secure@Home Hamilton program. Evelyn is a woman in her eighties who lives alone in a low-income senior building. Once leaving the hospital she needed assistance with transportation and meal delivery. Katrina Brophy, LSW, the Secure@Home Hamilton social worker, visited Evelyn in her apartment to conduct an assessment and collaborate with her regarding services she needed in the post-hospital transition. The social worker enrolled Evelyn in a free county transportation program, TRADE, and arranged meals with the Red Cross Meals on Wheels. These two services aided the client in this difficult time. Evelyn reported to the social worker and nurse how grateful she was for the rides to her doctors that the program provides. The client now has reliable, free transportation and prepared meals delivered to her. She has not been readmitted to the hospital. There are a number of clients in this program who were in need of just a small change. These small changes have contributed to the low readmissions rate of less than 10%. Now that the program is in its second year Secure@Home Hamilton looks to replicate these positive results. In celebration of Older Americans Month, Secure@Home Hamilton serves as a model for seniors to take charge of their health and live as independently as possible.

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